Chapter 173: The Calm Before the Storm
The temperature inside the Dust-Washing Tower rose noticeably. The cicadas outside began to chirp again. Those who had experienced this before quickly realized that Chen Changsheng was once again burning his starlight, causing this anomaly. They were greatly astonished. By their reckoning, this was already the third time they had witnessed his Initial Illumination, which completely contradicted the teachings of cultivation texts. As for Gou Hanshi, who was seeing this scene for the first time, he was utterly stunned into silence. He simply could not understand how Chen Changsheng, who had already entered the Observation Realm, could undergo Initial Illumination again.
Of course, Initial Illumination was a very dangerous affair. Although it was not as life-threatening as the Penetrating Darkness Realm, Chen Changsheng’s meridians were unique, his destiny star was unique, and the amount and intensity of starlight he absorbed had many peculiar aspects. Once it ignited, the flames would blaze sky-high. Even his body, which had been immensely strengthened by the dragon’s blood, could barely withstand the heat, quickly plunging into a perilous state.
Having experienced this before, and because his opponent in this battle was too strong, Chen Changsheng forcibly roused his divine sense. Even while undergoing Initial Illumination again, he did not close his eyes. Staring at Gou Hanshi across from him, he was unaware that his face had turned bright red, his body was scorching hot, and the sweat inside his clothes had instantly evaporated, leaving only streaks of salt stains behind, giving him a rather pitiful appearance.
If nothing else happened, just like the first two times of Initial Illumination, even if he wasn’t burned to death by the terrifyingly high temperature, he would be burned into an idiot. But since he dared to do this, it was naturally because he expected something to happen, just as he had thought during his battle with Zhuang Huanyu: some things that had already happened should logically continue to happen—for example, the rain.
The pitter-patter described the sound, the sound of rain threads passing through the air. Outside the Dust-Washing Tower, the sky was clear, but directly above the tower, a rain fell. The sound of the rain was soft, making one want to fall asleep.
The rain fell onto the short sword tightly gripped in Chen Changsheng’s hand. The moment the water droplets touched the blade, they evaporated into nothing, vanishing without a trace, as if they had seeped into the hard metal of the sword. More rain fell onto Chen Changsheng’s body, soaking into his clothes. Upon touching his skin, it evaporated, seemingly also seeping into his body.
With this sudden rain, the stifling heat inside the Dust-Washing Tower was washed away, and the temperature dropped significantly. Chen Changsheng’s body alternated between wet and dry. Countless amounts of heat dissipated with the water vapor, and his body temperature gradually lowered. He felt a cool breeze, brushing his face like a beauty’s hand, bringing immense comfort and joy.
Comfort was a physical sensation; joy was a mental recognition.
This rain was what he had been expecting. It proved that many people indeed did not want him to die. Just as he had discussed with Luoluo earlier, the Pope was watching this battle.
The snowfield burned, turning into a trickling stream, nourishing his body with true essence and providing him with greater power. Holding the short sword, he walked toward Gou Hanshi. As he moved, countless white mists rose from his body, creating an extremely eerie scene.
After taking only three steps forward, he switched to the Yaksa Step. The white mist around him suddenly condensed and then gradually dispersed. In the mist, his figure had vanished.
A violent sword wind arose from the stone wall behind Gou Hanshi, containing an immensely vast and surging aura of true essence. Chen Changsheng’s sword reappeared, silently and firmly stabbing toward Gou Hanshi’s back, then transforming into thousands of swords mid-strike.
The rain continued to fall. Chen Changsheng’s sword tip multiplied into countless points, seeming even denser than the raindrops. The sword technique he used was the most powerful form of the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword: Heaven and Earth Overturned.
This sword move prioritized momentum, like a torrential rain, aiming to overturn heaven and earth.
At this moment, it was raining inside the Dust-Washing Tower.
Chen Changsheng wanted to borrow the momentum of this rain, and the first thing he borrowed was naturally its imposing force.
Countless gusts of wind surged into the tower from outside. The open doors and windows on the second floor flapped incessantly, making an irritating sound, like an abandoned house that had been uninhabited for years.
The wind and rain were sudden and fierce, and so was Chen Changsheng’s sword. It flashed from all directions, stabbing toward Gou Hanshi.
The most powerful form of the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword, combined with the abundant true essence Chen Changsheng had gained from three rounds of Initial Illumination, made it extremely difficult for even Gou Hanshi to handle, and even harder to evade.
Gou Hanshi did not dodge. He stood silently amidst the real wind and rain, as well as Chen Changsheng’s sword wind and sword rain. Calmly gripping the hilt of his sword, he held it horizontally before his chest. There was no fear on his brow, only the confidence that calmness represented.
His sword was like the final stone step before ascending the Li Mountain Sword Sect.
His person was like the nameless green tree in front of the Li Mountain Sword Sect’s mountain gate.
That green tree had lived on Li Mountain for several hundred years. In many people’s eyes, the reason it survived was because of its exceptionally good luck. Yet few noticed that this green tree, silent and unmoving, had sheltered countless Li Mountain disciples from the hardships of wind and rain.
Gou Hanshi was this green tree.
He raised his sword to meet Chen Changsheng’s Wind and Rain Sword, his expression serene and peaceful.
He used the Zhiyuan Sword.
From the second floor came the exclamation of the Holy Church’s Archbishop: “To be able to execute this sword technique to such a degree in the Penetrating Darkness Realm—Li Mountain is remarkable, and Gou Hanshi is even more remarkable.”
A sword technique that could earn the praise of the Holy Church’s Archbishop was naturally extraordinary.
Chen Changsheng’s sword shadows, like wind and rain, all fell short. Not a single strike hit Gou Hanshi’s body.
Whether it was due to a natural wariness of the short sword in Chen Changsheng’s hand, or a precaution against his sword technique, Gou Hanshi did not directly parry with his sword. Instead, he used methods of pushing, blocking, and tapping. The sound of his sword spread outward around his body like the rustling of pine trees, blocking all of Chen Changsheng’s sword intent on the periphery.
The Pine Rustle was not a sword technique of the Li Mountain Sword Sect, but a palm technique from a certain cliff of the Longevity Sect. Gou Hanshi applied the intent of this palm technique to his swordplay. His sword momentum was profound, strong without a sharp edge, and Chen Changsheng’s sword simply could not threaten him.
With a dull thud, Chen Changsheng’s chest was struck by Gou Hanshi’s sword. He spat blood and flew backward, slamming heavily into the stone wall, then slid down like a pile of mud, unable to stand for a moment.
The next moment, he struggled to stand up by leaning against the wall. Staring at Gou Hanshi across from him, he remained silent, his face somewhat pale. The confidence he had just regained quickly vanished.
He had not expected that Gou Hanshi’s sword would be like the man himself—tranquil and far-reaching, indifferent and clear, seemingly lacking in power, yet incredibly difficult to resist.
Having burned one snowfield, there was still no chance of victory. What should he do?
He raised his left hand, wiped the rainwater from his face, and picked up his sword to advance again.
The moment his right foot landed in the puddle, his divine sense simultaneously ignited ten snowfields. The rain falling on his body instantly evaporated, turning into mist.
The rain descending from the sky seemed to sense something and suddenly became more violent.